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Sociocultural characteristics, obesity and inflammatory biomarkers in P uerto R ican toddlers born in N ew Y ork C ity
Author(s) -
Kannan Srimathi,
Acosta Luis M.,
AcevedoGarcia Dolores,
Divjan Adnan,
Bracero Luis A.,
Perzanowski Matthew S.,
Chew Ginger L.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.12084
Subject(s) - leptin , medicine , overweight , body mass index , demography , percentile , obesity , asthma , mathematics , sociology , statistics
Background In the USA , P uerto R ican children have a higher prevalence of asthma than other L atino ethnicities, and acculturation is one of hypothesized reasons for this difference. We examined associations between sociocultural characteristics and serum leptin, high‐sensitivity C ‐reactive protein (hs CRP ), and body mass index ( BMI ), and further, among hs CRP , leptin levels, BMI percentiles, and allergic sensitization in 2‐year‐old children. Methods I g E antibodies, leptin, and hs CRP concentrations were measured in serum from P uerto R ican toddlers (n = 143) born in N ew Y ork C ity with a maternal history of allergy and/or asthma. Demographic and home characteristics questionnaires were administered to the mother, postpartum and two years later. Children's weight and height were measured to determine BMI percentiles. Results More girls (60%) had leptin levels above the median compared with boys (37%) (p = 0.0063). Leptin was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.25; p = 0.0042). Children in daycare were more likely to be obese (40% vs. 24% p < 0.06). Maternal birthplace was significantly associated with children's leptin but not with hs CRP . Leptin levels were lower for children whose mothers were born on the US mainland ( GM = 2.5 ng/ml, 95% CI [2.2–2.7]) compared with those whose mothers were born in P uerto R ico or another country ( GM = 3.2 ng/ml, 95% CI [2.2–3.9], t ‐test p = 0.01). Mothers born in another country were more likely than those born in the US mainland or P uerto R ico to have obese children (60% vs. 26% p < 0.02). Leptin, hs CRP , and BMI percentile were not associated with sensitization to any of the measured inhalant allergens or total I g E . Conclusion Even at a very young age, some acculturation factors were associated with biomarkers and anthropometric measures of obesity among this P uerto R ican pediatric population. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the association of mother's birth place with child BMI and leptin as early as 24 months.